In the last couple of days, Prof. V.P. has been reported in the press as requesting Muslim leaders (muftis & Sheiks) to openly campaign for the sad term. To their credit, it was the Muftis who responded that they did not want to get involved in politics and that every moslem could and should make up their own mind about their political choices.
Since then, there has been a dearth of media reports on Ofwono�s anger about the VP�s efforts to involve religious leaders in politics.
Isn�t it naked hypocrisy for the Movement to be pissed off at the Bishops� expressed opinion about the current Movement stage-managed constitutional circus just because they hold an opposing view?
It�d seem that democracy in Uganda is defined as �blind and uncritical support of the government�s shenanigans�.
When priests swear presidents in to power, there is nothing wrong. When the same priests express their opinion about governance that happens to be out of line with those of the incumbents they are crowning thieves and are hypocrites. How uncouth!
State House doubts bishops on third term
By Hamis Kaheru
STATE House officials have reacted angrily to Wednesday�s statement by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) opposing the presidential third term. The Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox bishops jointly opposed the proposal to remove the two-term limit for a president to allow indefinite eligibility, popularly called �third term.�
The bishops, under the UJCC, also resolved to launch a massive campaign on the political transition process. Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga of the Orthodox Church, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala and Archbishop Luke Orombi, presented the resolution on Wednesday at the end of UJCC�s annual plenary session at Pope Paul Memorial Centre. The bishops said lifting presidential term limits would set a dangerous precedent and boost the tendency to cling to power.
�UJCC is concerned about the proposal to amend Article 105(2) of the Constitution on presidential term
limits. We are of the view that this move is not justified,� a statement signed by the bishops said.
Movement spokesman Ofwono Opondo said the bishops could only express their individual views on the issue. �It is their right to support either side since they are Ugandans but they cannot purport to be speaking for the church because some of the third term proponents are staunch Christians. They may be speaking for some Christians but not all,� he said.
�They are not talking for the Church because the only doctrine they follow and for which they speak is the Bible. Nowhere in the Bible is it written that there shall be term limits or no terms for political leaders,� Ofwono said.
The presidential assistant on political affairs, Moses Byaruhanga, the church would be undermining the aspirations of their followers by opposing the third term.
�If churches want preservation of democracy, how come they are coming in now to oppose the request by peopl
e who are freely and democratically demanding for the removal of term limits?� he said.
�If churches were opposed to unlimited eligibility, how come they never opposed the 1969 Constitution which did not have term limits?� Byaruhanga asked. �As long as leadership is elected regularly any unpopular leader who wants to cling to power would be thrown out in elections,� he said.
Ofwono said, �If they come out and we defeat them, they will have no moral ground to speak on political matters again.� �Hypocrites in church called priests have always put crowns on thieves called kings. Now that they have chosen to come to the political arena directly, they shall find us there,� Ofwono added.
New Vision: Friday, 4th June, 2004
Does the army�s assistant chief of staff double as a political commissar these days? How about concentrating on the defeat of Kony and external threats and leave internal matters to the police and the LDUs (except in occassional emergency situations), as one might reasonably expect �professional� soldiers to do?
Army backs fair elections
By Vision Reporter
THE Uganda People�s Defence Forces (UPDF) assistant chief of staff, Brig. Benon Biraro, has said the Army was committed to defending the Constitution in addition to supporting free and fair elections. Biraro was closing a workshop organised by the Electoral Commission (EC) at Bombo Army headquarters recently.
He said the army would defend the Constitution under any political system Ugandans may choose for their governance. The workshop aimed at training UPDF officers in matters concerning the electoral process.
Biraro said the Army would always help the Police enforce law and order during elections. �There are about 17,000 polling centres in Uganda, where as the Police Force is just 15,000 people strong.
During national elections, it is important that the Army and Local Defence Unit personnel beef up the Police so a
s to keep law and order in the country,� he said
During past elections, the UPDF was accused of intimidating the electorate and being involved in electoral malpractices.
However, UPDF chief political commissar Brig. Kale Kaihura said such allegations were irresponsible, provocative and only meant to undermine the Army. Kaihura said the Army would remain impartial during the electoral process.
He appealed to the Government to enact a law that would prevent politicians from falsely accusing the Army and making irresponsible utterances against it which were likely to cause chaos among the people.
Published on: Friday, 4th June, 2004
Ps: who is this nameless �Vision Reporter�?
Stop worrying about overloading your inbox - get MSN Hotmail Extra Storage! -------------------------------------------- This service is hosted on the Infocom network http://www.infocom.co.ug
